Basic Science Research

The McKay Urology Research Department is committed to basic science research that advances urology by:

Analyzing angiogenesis and metastasis in prostate cancer

Maintaining disease databases

Participating in the Davidson Research Scholar Program

Angiogenesis and Metastasis in Prostate Cancer

Much current cancer research focuses on angiogenesis, the formation and proliferation of new blood vessels, and metastasis – tumor cells migrating from the prostate to other sites (lymph node, bone). Doctors and scientists are today confident that tumors can neither grow nor metastasize without new vascular growth into the tumor. Accordingly, our research focuses on the relationship between specific proteins involved in angiogenesis and metastasis in prostate cancer, and the effects these proteins have on both processes.

Thrombomodulin is one of the proteins being examined for its relation to angiogenesis and metastasis in prostate cancer. We are researching the expression and activity of thrombomodulin in prostate cancer patient tissues to determine how this protein is involved in the cancer’s progression. Our lab is also examining the in vitro and ex vivo activity of thrombomodulin in prostate cancer cell lines and animal models to further investigate the role of thrombomodulin in angiogenesis and metastasis.

Disease Databases

In addition to pure basic science research, McKay Urology also manages a long-term database of prostate cancers to better analyze the epidemiology of the disease.